MUAR: After increasing charges by 35 per cent on Saturday, three days after the fuel price hike, the 10,000-strong Pan Malaysia Lorry Owners' Association has warned of more increases.Its president, Er Sui See, said further increases would be inevitable if fuel prices rose further.

Er said the association was still waiting to have a dialogue with Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat to discuss several "outstanding issues", among them a reduction in road tax, the abolition of duty on registration of semi-trailers and tankers, and exemption of import duties on spare-parts and tyres.

Bernama reports Er as saying the association wants all lorry operators to benefit from the fleet card fuel subsidy system, which allows them to buy 2,650 litres of subsidised fuel per vehicle each month.

Currently, only 30 per cent or 3,000 PMLOA members were entitled to the subsidy."The system must be standardised so that operators would not pass on the (higher) cost to the consumers."

Er said the quota should also be raised to at least 4,500 to 5,000 litres per month.

"Only with that amount can we absorb the higher cost or maintain the current charges," he added.